Merkel gave Trump a bewildered look when he said they had 'something in common' over his Obama wiretapping claims

President
Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel participate in a
joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in
Washington, Friday, March 17, 2017.Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with a look of
incredulity Friday when President Donald Trump suggested the pair
had "something in common" over his claims
that the Obama administration conducted wiretapping against him
during the presidential campaign.

Trump was questioned about his claims that the Obama
administration had monitored Trump Tower communications during
the election.

A reporter asked Trump's assessment of the claim in the wake of
the British government's firm denial that its intelligence
service had taken part in the surveillance — whether Trump
thought someone else was involved.

"As far as wiretapping, I guess, by this past administration, at
least we have something in common, perhaps," Trump said,
stretching his hand out toward Merkel, who was standing next to
him.

The comment elicited laughs from the gallery. From Merkel, there
was only a look of amusement.

Obama reportedly personally authorized the monitoring of Merkel's
cellphone in 2010. Other reports indicate that US intelligence
had been listening in on her phone as along ago as 2002, when she was leader of
the German opposition.

Merkel was reportedly "livid" at the report, telling Obama that "she
unmistakably disapproves of and views as completely unacceptable
such practices."